Jelena is a Project Manager at Europa Media with experience in call analysis and proposal writing with a focus on developing Dissemination and Communication plans and activities for Horizon 2020 projects. She is responsible for proposal development, project management, dissemination and IT task supervision under Horizon 2020 programmes. Currently, Jelena is leading dissemination activities for the SPEAR project, which aims to support the implementation of gender equality plans in academia. 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Development and International Cooperation from the University of Bologna and an MSc in International Politics from Leiden University. Her specific areas of interest include Western Balkan’s regional politics, post-conflict transition, intra-state relations and gender equality. She completed an internship at the Central European Initiative in Trieste, where she worked on several Interreg Europe projects. Previously, Jelena was involved in projects and activities related to startups, entrepreneurship, and innovation, specifically the Horizon 2020 project MY-GATEWAY which aimed at boosting entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe. 

She is passionate about EU affairs and active advocate of EU enlargement, with a strong belief that the soundest way to foster EU integration, strengthen existing contacts, and stimulate a smart growth is through collaborative projects tackling societal challenges – such as Horizon 2020.